I can grow things! Despite having a black thumb my entire life, it has suddenly turned green.

I took a “gardening and you” class for fun last spring, but it pretty much only entailed the teacher giving away free plants during each class. So, by the end of it I had about 10 free plants to keep alive. It went well for a while and I thought my luck was changing. But sure enough, a few months later they started to die, become infested with aphids and only four survived: my banana plants, my basil and my bell pepper plant.

Well, one winter later, only one banana tree lives…but it is getting pretty big and healthy.

Last month, I read an article about healthy snacks and avocados were the no. 1 ingredient that I saw — so of course I went on an avocado kick. Well, after eating one I realized I didn’t like them plain, but I saved the core and planted in an empty pot I had. Last week, it grew. I am so impressed with myself I can’t even express it.

So to celebrate, Wesley and I bought some new pots and dirt and seeds. We planted them on Sunday and this morning when I woke up, so did all of the seeds. There are now a bunch of new baby sunflowers popping up.

Alright, time for the bad/ugly.

Pensacola Beach on June 23, 2010

Heavy oil hit Pensacola Beach this morning. I don’t really know what else to say. It’s just so shocking and devastatingly heartbreaking that all I can do is try to forget. I know that’s the wrong thing to do, but I can’t handle thinking about oil covering that beach – covering my beach – my dad’s beach. This will be a breaking point. I hope. A turning point in the struggle to turn to alternative energy and in President Obama’s administration. I have a lot of faith in him and I hope he can stay true to his campaign promises and make renewable energy happen – starting now. I hope that other people all over the country will be stronger than me and think about this oil spill every day. I hope they will blog about it, talk about it and make decisions based around it. This spill has affected me in an irreversible way and I hope it will do the same for everyone else.